collar



Ocf. 18, 1932. COLLAR 1,883,337

YARN CHANGER Filed Sept. 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mow;

Oct. 18, 1932. G. D. COLLAR 1,883,337

YARN CHANGER Filed se n. 5. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 dumwq 'been found considerable difliculty v ing a yarn changer of at least three or Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE D. COLLAR, OF GLENSIDE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO B. BBINTON COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA Yam: CHANGER Application filed September 5, 1930. Serial No. 479,983.

machines wherein a plurality of yarns were used, a single clamp only was used, with the result that a light and a heavy yarn, i. e. silk and cotton, could not be successfully held in the clamp for the reason that the wide diameter cotton yarn would hold the clamp open with respect to the smaller diameter silk yarn with the result that onl the cotton yarn was clamped, the silk yarn ing.

free from the clamp and therefore not in proper positiondfor re-entry to theneedles when it was desired to throw in the silk yarn. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide such clamping and cutting means as will positively cut and clamp each yarn separately, so that the aforementioned deficiencies are overcome. This is useful on any type of machine employing a bank of needles and a yarn changer and is not limited to the type of machine here shown, i. e. a rib machine.

In addition to the difliculties aforementioned on all types of machines, there has in applyour yarns to a rib machine, for the reason that the presence of the rib dial, dial needles and operating means inside the circle of cylinder needles, precludes the possibility of placing yarn clamping and cutting means inside the circleof needles, as is the case in plain hosiery machines having only cylmder' needles. Of courseron this latter type .of

machine, as in rib machines, whenever an thing is placed within the area inside t e cylinder needle circle, it is then' impossible to place clamping and cutting means therein, and in such cases my invention is particularly useful.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unitary clamp and cutter for each yarn finger, each such clamp and cutter bein mounted on its respective yarn finger an movable with the same. The result of this is that the yarn is fed to the needles inone position of the yarn finger, but is clam d and cut by its own clamp and cutter w en the yarn finger goes into inoperative position. Obviously this is of great advantage in not only insuring positive clamping of silk as well as cotton yarns, but also in a great saving of yarns since the cut ends are quite close to the yarn finger, thus, especially on machines having only a needle cylinder, reducingthe waste ends which are a considerable item on multifeed machines. I

Referring to the drawings, which are made a part of this application and in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts:

Fig. 1 is a section through the striper and showing part of the rib machine to which the striper is attached,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, the striper not being in section, with a sectional view of the dial cams,

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the striper, Fig. 4 is a side view of the striper,

Fig. 5 shows four positions of a yarn finger in going fromoperative to inoperative position,

Fig. 6 is a view showing the parts of a yarn finger dissembled,

gig. 7 is front elevation of a yarn finger, an

' Fig. 8, a similar view with the parts difierently ositioned.

In t e drawings, a rib machine is illustrated in which the stationary bed plate is shown at 1, with the rotary cam ring 2, the stationary needle cylinder 3 and the rotary dial cam ring 4, all as is well understood in the art.

The dial needles are shown at 5 and the of'thedial needle hooks intersects the path cam ring 2, as shown in Fig. 1. Inside the box are here showna plurality (preferably four) of striper or yarn fingers 13 arranged alongside each other and pivotally mounted on the. pin 14 which is fastened in the side walls of the box 10, at the upper cut away portion thereof. The construction of each finger may best be explained by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. The finger 13 (Fig. 6) is made of metal in the shape shown with a hole 15 through which the pin 14 passes, said finger also having a yarn hole 16, a fin 17 of reduced thickness with a hole 17 therethrough, two holes 18 for a purpose to be explained, a cut away surface 19, a further cut away surface 20, a pin 21, and a lower end portion 22 approximately at right angles to the main body and spaced away from a yarn ,hole 23 extending downward through the finger. The lower end 22 has its front end rounded at one side as shown at 24 to provide a. clamping surface.

The revolving cutter 25 is shown separately in Fig. 6, this element being formed with a. hole 26 at the center thereof adapted to fit the pin 21 of the finger 13, and this cutter revolves freely about pin 21 as an axis, taking up the space between the surfaces 20 and 19 for a purpose to be explained. The wheel or revolving cutter is here shown as having five arms 27, thongh the number of arms may vary. The rotation of this wheel is step by step, the length of each step being dependent upon the number of arms, i. e., if there are five arms, each step covers 7 2 degrees; if four arms, 90 degrees, etc. Each arm 27 has a projection 28 and a sharpened edge 29 which provides a cutting edge. The wheel is placed on the finger in such a position that the dull I edges of the arms 27 are next to the rounded edge 24 of the finger so that a yarn may be clamped therebetween:

A stationary cutter member 30 is also shown in Fig. 6, this cutter being of the same general shape as the lower end of theyarn finger with a hole 31 which fits freely over the end of pin 21. The upper endhas two holes 32 which are aligned with holes 18 cutter member also acts as a spring member on the wheel to keep the same pressed against the clamp. 24 as to hold a cut yarn end securely.

The means for revolving the wheel cutter will now be described, with reference to Figs. 1, 4 and 5. In Figs. 1, 4 and 5 it will be seen that the finger 13 is adapted to be moved through a limited arc, i. e. from position A to position D of Fig. 5, by means to be described. It will also be seen in these figures that a pin is adapted to be moved from ar. upper inoperative position 35 to a lower operative position 35' by means to be described.

This pin extendsacross the striper box so as to traverse the four stripers. lVith the finger 13 in the position A of Fig. 5 and in the position shown in Fig. 1 the yarn Y is shown passing through the holes 16 'and 23 of the finger and feeding to the knitting needles. It will be noted that the yarn passes from the hole 23 (Fig. 7) across the opening between two arms 27 of the wheel cutter and across the opening in the stationary cutter to the needles. This is the feeding position of the finger with the pin in position 35 as shown.

When it is desired to withdraw the finger from action (by means to be described) so as to discontinue the feeding of yarn Y the pin is first moved to position 35 shown at B in Fig. 5, and at the same time the yarn finger starts to swing rearwardly. As shown at position B, the rear edge of one arm 27 of the wheel isjust beginning to make contact with the pin. Continued rocking of the finger to position C causes the wheel cutter to move clockwise due to the rotation of the wheel about its own axis by reason of the contactof one of its arms 27 with the stationary pin. In this position it will be seen that the arm which is in the position 27 (Fig. 5C) ahead of the arm in contact with the pin moves to catch the yarn on its forward edge inside the projection 28. The finger continues its movement to position D, which causes a 72 degree movement of the wheel, bringof the finger when the stationary cutter is being marked Y. It will be seen that the placed on the surface 19. By any suitable means,such as rivets, the cutter 30 may be fastened to the finger 13. This cutter has a prQJecting. end 33 with a sharpened edge 34 provlding a cutting edge adjacent to the cutting edges 29 of therevolving cutter 25, between which edges a. yarnmay be sheared oil. It will be seen that the revolving cutter is free to move aboutrits axis, it being kept in place by the stationary cutter. This latter yarn is not only cut off and clamped close to its end, but also a length or stretch of yarn is presented between the hole 23 and the clamp 24, which is made use of as will be described. The withdrawing actionof the finger being completed, the pin is again moved to inoperative position 35, ready for the next cutting operation.

To throw a yarn into operation, the finger 13 is simply rocked from position D of Fig.

. across the path of the dial needles.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the dial needles take the path shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 and represented at 5 in Fig. 1. In

moving the yarn finger to operative position the stretch of yarn just described is carried )LS tilt) striper rotates, relative to these needles, the hooks thereof take the yarn and draw it into the machine to be knit, the yarn pulling out of the clamp as it is knit by the needles. The yarn is caught between two dial needles, and passes into thehooks of the following dial needles. As has been explained the dial needle path crosses or intersects the path of the cylinder needles (the needles being alternately placed on a-rib machine and having separate cam paths), so that the leading dial needle hook in which the yarn has been caught, draws the yarn into the cylinder needle hooks as the needles cross each other.

' Once the cylinder needles have taken the yarn and knit it, the yarn continues to lead to the cylinder needles. It may be, however,

on such types of rib machines as lead the prevent the formation of a hole in the fabric dne'to lack of yarn. While a new linger is being thrown in the pin is in position then as soor as the new finger is in, the pin is moved to position 35 and the workin finger withdrawn, all as has been explained in detail. v v

The yarn carrier used is shown ascomprising in parts, flat curved plate 36, the curved portion being within, the curved dial needle hook path, as clearly appears in Fig. 2. This plate terminatesabruptly at 37 near the point where the cylinder and dial needle paths intersect. A post 38, to which the plate is secured, supports the plate, the post 38 being held in place by any suitable arrangement such as is indicated generally at 39 and secured to the rotating dial cap 4. Obviously however the supporting means for the post 38 need not be secured to the dial cap, but may be placed upon the rotating cam ring 2,,if desired, as when it is impossible to 1 n'ake a connection to the dial cap due to the. wrap fingers and yarns, as shown in application of Schlotterer Serial No. 469,781 filed July 22,

1930. When using this striper on the wrap stripe machine shown in said application the support for the yarn carrier is placed on the cam ring 2. A rounded fillet .40 is placed at A the end 37 of the plate, between. the horizontal plate and the vertical plate 41. The purpose of the plate 36 is to keep the needle latches-open, while feeding yarn,'and]-here to get the yarn into the cylinder needles. ".JWhen' a new yarn finger is thrown in to feeding p0 I sition, the stretch of yarn passes between two dial needles and across the outside edge of plate 36, since the yarn hole 23 comes well above the plate 36 as shown in Fig. 1. Continued rotation carries the yarn toward'the intersection with the cylinder needle path, and at the same time the yarn is kept in contact with plate 36, until it reaches the end 37 thereof. Here the yarn is taken by the cylinder needles, pulled overthe end 37 and up above the plate 36 onto the rounded fillet 40 where it continues to pass thereover to the cylinder needles.

The pin 35 is adapted to move from operative to inoperative position along a curved slot 46-cut in the side walls of the box 10. Thepin is fixed to the end of the larger arm oil? a U-shaped bracket 42 partly surrounding the box 10 and having a cross member 43 extending across therear end of the box in spaced relation thereto. The bracket 42 is pivoted on a projecting pin 45 extending across the box and held in the side walls of.

i8, one for each slide, extending across the.

forked portion and passing through the hole in area 17, provides a pivotal relationship between slide and finger. A slot 49 in each slide 46 provides for a limited mc veinent of the slide upon the single pin 50 located in the side walls of box 10 and extending acrosss the.

box. On the rear end of the slides 46' are butts 51, each at a different level so that with four slides there is a butt at each of four levels 7 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A de ending projection 52 .serves a purpose to e described and springs 53, one for each finger, attached -to fin 17 at their inner ends normally urge each finger and slide to outward inoperative position to the limit set by slot 49. When the slide is moved inwardly to the limitof slot 49,- the finger is in operative or feeding position. The means for holding the slides and fingers in feeding position against the action of springs 53 comprises latches 54, one

for each slide 46, pivoted on the cross pin,

45 mounted in the side walls of box 10. The detent ends 56 of the latches take under the projections 52 to hold the respective slides in operative position. The springs 53 are attached at their outer ends to'the' respective latches, tending to turn them to locking position. If a slide is moved inwardly, then a latch automatically holds the slide there. To

an abutment 58, which are stationary rela-- tive to the rotating striper box 10. The plate 57 may be moved selectively. upward under pattern control to. any of five positions,

by means of pattern action on a vertical pin 59, and a spring moves the plate 57 downward. There are four operative levels of the plate 57 one for each of the butts 51 on the slides 46, (Figs. 1 and 3) Fig. 1 showing, in full lines, a butt 51 in position for engagement by plate 57. The abutment 58 moves radially of the machine, being spring urged inwardly by spring 61-and being positively moved outwardly by action of a camsecured to plate 57 and taking inside a small cross pin 63 to move the abutment 58 out against the tension of spring 61, when the plate and cam 62 move to a level beneath the level shown in Fig. 1. When the plate is at its inoperative level (one below that shown in Fig. 1) it does not contact with any butts, and cam 62 moves abutment 58 outwardly so that the end of the abutment 58 clears the cross bar 43 and the ends of the latches 54 during rotation of the machine.

lVhen a yarn is to be changed, the plate is moved to the proper level and this permits 3 spring 61 to move abutment 58 into position.

The plate 57 first hits butt 51 moving the new yarn in and as plate 57 extends over a considerable are, as shown in Fig. 1, it holds the yarn finger so until after abutment 58 has done its work. After the new finger is in, the abutment 58 strikes the cam edge of cross bar 43 of the U-shaped member e42 thus moving the cutter-actuating pin to position 35' and on continued movement the abutment 58 strikes the lower ends of all the latches 54. This will release any active slide and its finger and permit them to move out under the action of the corresponding spring 53, cutting and clamping the corresponding yarn at the same time. At this time with all the 'latches'tri ped,-all the yarn fingers would move out, an they do so, with the exception of the one held in by plate 57. On continued movement, the abutment 58 passes by the latches, so that once more they may be urged tolocking position by springs Since one slide is still being held in by plate 57, the latch for that slide will" lock the same, so that when contact between that slide and the plate is lost, the slide will still be locked in its inward position, with its 1,esa,ss7

yarn finger'in active position. The rel'nainmg three slides will then be in outwardlposition, ready to be selected by the plate 57 upon movement thereof to the proper level whenever desired. Between selections the plate moves down to the inoperative level, and the abutment 58 moves outward to idle position.

When the crossbar 43 passes the abutment 58, the U-shaped bracket. 42 is moved counterclockwise to carry the cutter-actuating pin to upper inoperative position 35.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of m invention and therefore I donot limit myse f to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims:

Having thus full described my said. invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Qil

1. In a striper, a plurality of yarn fingers each adapted to present a yarn to and withdraw a yarn from the needles of a knitting machine, and means mounted upon each yarn finger to cut and clamp the yarn from that finger as each finger is withdrawn.

2. In a striper, a plurality of yarn fingers each adapted to present a yarn to and with draw a yarn from the needles of a" knitting machine, and clamping and cutting means mounted upon each yarn finger to cut and clamp the yarn from that finger. as the yarn is withdrawn.

3. In a rib knitting machine, a plurality of yarn fingers at a feed, means for moving-said fingers in parallel planes toward and from feeding position, yarn-cutting and clamping means on each finger, and means stationary with respect to the backward swing "of the yarn fingers for engaging and operating said cutting and clamplng means as the respective yarn fingers move away from feeding position.

4. In 'a dial and cylinder knitting-machine, a plurality of yarn fingers at a feed, means for moving them selectively in parallel planes toward and from feeding position, clamping and cutting means individual to theyarn fingers and moving bodil therewith, and means independent of t e yarn fingers for actuating the clamping and cutting means as a yarn finger moves out of feeding position. I

5. In a knitting machine, a plurality of am fingers movable into and out of feedmg position, a wheel on each finger, arms on the-wheel said arms having cutting edges at their forward sides in the direction of rotation of the wheel for coacting with adjacent faces on the yarn fingers to cut oil' a yarn and hold the free end thereof, and means for engaging an arm of 'a wheel as its finger moves out of feeding position thereby rotating the wheel to cut and clamp its yarn.

' and clamping means an cooperating. therewith to hold a length of yarn in position to enter between needles of a set when its finger moves into feeding position.

7. In a dial and cylinder knitting machine having stationary needle beds and a revolving cam ring, a setof yarn fingers pivoted on the cam ring at afeed, radially movable slides for movmg the fingers into and out of feeding relation to the needles,

pattern controlled means for operating the slides selectively, and means at the end of each finger adjacent the needles for cutting and clamping it yarn when the'same is idle.

8. A device as in claim.7, in combination with detents for holding the res ective slides in their inner position, means or operating the cuttingand clam mg devices, and pat tern mechanism on t e fixed frame of the machine including elements for releasing a detent from its slide and positioning thecutter-operating means as a set of yarn fin- 'gers asses said elements.

having stationary needle beds and a revolving cam ring, a set of yarn fingers pivoted on the cam ring at a feed, radially movable c slides for moving the fingers into and out of feeding relation to the needles, pattern controlled means for operating the slides selectively, means 'at the end of each finger adjacent the needles for cuttin ing its yarn when the same isi e, including a yarn guidin eye .on a finger and cutting blades c'arri v thereby in spaced relation to said eye whereby the eye in its 0 rative position is at one side of the plane 0 the dial needles while the cutting b ades are at theother, as and for the purpose set i ll h f I flix at testimon w ereo a 111 Si ure.

y GEORGE D.

9. n a dial and cylinder knitting machine and clamp- I said means 

